GLODOK CHINA TOWN
Oldest Part of Jakarta City

Around the years of 1700s Jakarta was started to expand keeping pace with the start of Batavia town by Ducth overseas trade which is now called Jakarta Old Town, or Kota in Bahasa Indonesia, neighboring with the port of Sunda Kelapa. Batavia town at the time was enclosed with wall to separate them from the rest of the area. There were some people allowed to live within walled area or in Batavia town and some were have to live outside the wall.

Today the area of Glodok is known as China town which is bordered by Jalan Gajah Mada at the east. Jalan Gajah Mada is the main road that leading from the beginning of Jalan Mangga Dua Raya southward up to Monas or Monumen Nasional. This road is divided into 2 lanes, one is for normal car and other lane is for the traffic of Bus Way, the transport developed during the governor Sutiyoso to overcome the distressing traffic congestion in the area of Central Jakarta. Across Gajah Mada road is the famous Mangga Dua area, known for its rich shopping centers, malls and various entertainments. At the southern border of China town is the area of Kelurahan Keagungan and Kelurahan Krukut, while the north is bordered by Jalan Pancoran. In the area of Glodok one can see old type of architecture and character of 1700s. The area of Glodok is just outside of the wall of old town of 1700s. It is reported that the Chinese was living within the wall in 1740, but a riot happened in 1741 and the Chinese were massacred. After this catastrophe the government of Batavia forbidden for a Chinese to live in the town but was given a spot of land outside the wall. This area developed fast into a commercial center with Chinese characters such as winding lanes, slanting red tiled roofs and small dark shops.

The development of Indonesian economy in general gives an impact to some diligent businessmen of the town and able to move to find bigger space and more developing business. So, after the independent of Republic of Indonesia many of them already spreaded out around the area what we know now bigger Jakarta City.

Jakarta Old town which is known today as Kota from the point of tourism, giving a great interest and has become regular tourism visits. Tour operators never forget the place on their tour itinerary. Travelers can see the historic Sunda Kelapa port, Tamman Fatahillah, a commemorial of Islamic hero in opposing the Dutch in 17th century, Jakarta history museum, which building is the most solid remainder of 17th century of Batavia art, Wayang puppet museum, fine art museum, Canon Si Jagur a Portuguese canon brought to Batavia in 1641 from Malacca, Gereja Sion whcih was built in 1695 and is the oldest church in Jakarta built outside the wall. Some slaves of Asian who were brought from Portuguese ports in India and Malacca dropped in Jakarta and given the freedom to follow Catholic or Protestant provided they follow the Dutch reformed church, and this is first reformed church in Indonesia. This group of slaves is called the mardjikers.